Gore aides work together years after dispute

WASHINGTON {AP} Al Gore's presidential campaign defended the hiring of two bitter rivals as good politics, but Republicans said Friday the personnel move was an act of desperation.

Bob Squier is both a close adviser and friend to Gore and a specialist in political advertising for the campaign.

Carter Eskew, who has described Squier as his mentor and has known Gore for years, was hired last week to help refine Gore's message.

The pair worked together at one of Washington's top political consulting firms, but parted company on bitter terms in 1993. They have given conflicting reasons for Eskew's departure, but Eskew acknowledges leaving the firm without talking to Squier.

"The bottom line on this is we are already working together with the common goal of getting Al Gore elected president," Squier said in a telephone interview Friday.

"One of my partners just met with him. We're all working together to get the vice president elected."

Democratic consultant Geoff Garin said Eskew and Squier have "a lot of history" to work through.

"They've been put in a difficult position. but they're both professionals," he said. "My bet is they're going to work through it, but it's going to take some time."

Gore campaign spokesman Roger Salazar said Eskew's hiring should not be taken as a sign that something was amiss with the vice president's campaign.